The president of cycling's governing body yesterday insists the doping problems in his sport do not threaten its place in the Olympics.

John Fahey, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, has suggested that cycling and weightlifting must clean up their acts or risk being tossed from the Olympics.

"It isn't Mr. Fahey's job to decide who is in the Olympic programme," UCI president Pat McQuaid said. "Up to now we have always had support from the IOC and, in particular, from the president, Jacques Rogge."

McQuaid said it is not the UCI that is involved in doping but the individual riders.

"Why should the UCI or the sport of cycling be thrown out of the Olympic Games? We saw wonderful road races in a wonderful setting. We are watching magnificent track racing. Cycling brings a huge amount to the Olympic Games," he said.

"If Mr. Fahey wants to make statements such as that, he should (look) a little bit further to some other sports and comment on them as well because their statistics aren't different than the UCI's statistics."

Asked if there should be lifetime bans for riders where evidence suggests doping over prolonged periods, McQuaid said that was not possible yet.

"On a personal level, I would say that, but on a professional level we have to work within the WADA anti-doping code and within normal civil laws," he said. "Until such time as the WADA anti-doping code allows us to do that, I don't think we will."

McQuaid added that he was pleased to see that drug-testers recently caught cyclists using a new substance.

"I think it's a very, very strong message to the rest of the peloton that you don't listen to the quasi-doctors who tell you this product is undetectable," he said.

Riccardo Ricco of Italy was expelled from the Tour de France after testing positive for CERA, a new version of the blood booster EPO. Another Italian, Emanuele Sella, who dominated the climbs in the Tour of Italy earlier in the season, also failed an out-of-competition test.

"There are some guys who are prepared to take the big risk for the Tour de France," McQuaid said. "But I think everybody in the cycling family will agree that the racing was good, that the winners were good and that they were credible. I do genuinely believe that a large portion of the peloton is clean."